Ethan: "Heh, will do.

I can do the uh, looking out for trouble, too."

Amelia: "Not a whole lot of looking I can do when it's night."

The ferry is ready and the ferry-guy motions your team over. A minute later and you're on the raft, and soon after you're on the other side of the riverbank. Looks like it's footwork from here.

Amelia: "Whaddya think happened with Magusalto?"

Ethan: "Maybe it was those rebels that they talked about earlier. Some group trying to wreck the city or something."


________________________________________


Sanoa: "If that's all, I guess I'll go waste some time before the meeting."

She walks off, stopping for a moment as if considering saying something else, and then continues on.


Adele arrives back by your side.

Adele: "Sorry, about that. I didn't realize there were things going on between you two."


________________________________________


Another long walk from Mead to Vran and then from Vran's walls to the captital building, and you're back in the lord's office with Byrnolf, with Kuori still on your shoulder.

Elizabeth: "Looks like you've got the process down?"


________________________________________


YOU DEMONSTRATE FAST, THOUGH MIIMAS SEEMS TO SLOW DOWN AND GO BACK TO NOT-FAST STANDING

Miimas: "Uh huh.



So uh, the mission thing soon."

Miimas: "Well, it's nearly time. You ready?"


________________________________________


Adele: "Well, that's good.

Almost mission time, got everything you need?"


________________________________________


Ethan: "Not sure what good that'll do versus just head in, but whatever."

Your team moves a bit north to the base of the first mountain, finding it covered with dense forest.

Amelia: "How does this give us a good look?"


________________________________________


You approach the mountain base, ready to draw Hexestahl.

The construct lamps are still on, revealing signs of a fight. Maybe Tabi didn't make a stealthy entrance after all. Doesn't look like there are any bodies or ruined constructs, so she must've made it through without serious damage to either party.

Through the busted gates, the interior of the base welcomes you with its darkness.

You head to Baltir's place with Miimas in tow.

Stepping into the shop, you see two completed suits of bulky armor. One shaped like a lupus and one shaped like a Monk, with the Monk-shaped one already containing a Monk.

Monk: "Hey, armor's done."

Baltir: "Ah, you're just in time."

Miimas: "Neat."


________________________________________


Your group heads into the forest and continues towards the destination.

It's dark an uneventful for a bit, until you hear a telepathic message.

Ethan: Stop. Something ahead.

A fuzzy picture appears in your mind - a massive, partially crumbled boulder made of flesh and stone, about the size of a house.

Ethan: A decompressed witch core. Seems to be in a corrupted state. There are some signs of a fight - little craters, damaged trees. No other bodies that I can see, so far.


________________________________________


You have Stahlnacht light the helm, and then proceed into the base. Tan colored stone walls with matching floors and ceilings. It seems like a straight tunnel into the mountain, with occasional dead-end rooms to the sides.

Scratches and chips in the stone floor mark the passage of Tabi's automatons, and you see the occasional broken husk of one as you continue on.

There's blood, too. A few drops here and there, and then a burnt corpse, another mutilated by blades, another splattered against a wall.

After more walking, you find a chirop that's sitting, leaning against the wall, still alive, wearing a bloodied blue robe. She seems to conscious, watching you with tired eyes.


________________________________________


Adele: "Your Captivate will give you a powerful edge, and I doubt your enemies will be expecting it. Torrent will be joining you as well, so it'll all work out somehow. I don't know who the person inside the weapon is, but he's well-known for being, highly-capable, I guess."